Rotary pump



June 17, 1969 E. w. ANTHON I r 3,450,051

ROTARY PUMP .F'INVENTOR "ERIK W.ANTHON ATTORNEY June 17, 1969 E. W. ANTHON ROTARY PUMP Filed March 22. 1967 FIGZ. l

INVENTOR ERIK W. ANTHON AT TO RN EY June 17,1969 E. w. ANTHONV 3,45

ROTARY PUMP Filed March 22, 1967 FIG.4.

Sheet 3 5a 37 so |NVENTQ K W.ANTHQN ATTORNEY June 17, 1969 E. w. ANTHON 3,450,051

ROTARY PUMP 1 Filed March 22. 1967 Sheet 4 of 5 mull 56 58 INVENTOR 55 w ERIK W.ANTHON ATTORNEY E; W. ANTHON ROTARY PUMP June 17, 1969 Sheet Filed March 22, 1967 l 11 111 70 G9 69 7O IIVIIYIA'II 69 ATTORN EY 3,450,051 ROTARY PUMP Erik W. Anthon, Kensington, Califi, assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Optical Corporation, Southbridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 22, 1967, Ser. No. 625,152 Int. Cl. F04b 23/04, 19/16 US. Cl. 103-5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a novel rotary pump means for transporting fluids and relates more particularly to a rotary pump adapted to act simultaneously upon a plurality of streams each from a separate source whereby the several streams are combined within the pump and thereafter discharged as a single stream. The novel pump means of this invention can be utilized as a proportioning means which is highly effective for combining together and intimately mixing several fluids and its finds particular application when operated as a scavenging pump for continuously and simultaneously drawing fluids from a plurality of sources, the combined fluids being thereafter discharged from the pump.

The use of automated systems which are programmed for analyzing blood serum, urine, body fluids and like liquid materials including process streams in many chemical manufacturing operations for their various chemical components has been gaining wide acceptance. Systems are available which can be programmed to sample, dilute, add reagents, incubate, read and then print out the analytical test results with remarkable efliciency and accuracy. The systems are programmed to then rinse, wash and dry the individual vessels in which the analytical procedures are carried out so that they will be ready for the next sample. Such a system is described, for example, on p. 18 of Chemical & Engineering News, vol. 44, published on Nov. 7, 1966.

Since these systems repeat a rapid sequence of numerous steps including cleaning, mixing and rinsing it is essential that the various spent solutions including the excess sample, reagent, wash and rinse solutions be drained e-fliciently and the system cleaned before commencement of the next step in order to avoid error by cross-contamination between samples. Transfer of liquids in the automated systems available is now accomplished by individual suction, aspirator or centrifugal pumps. The major disadvantage of such systems is that many pumps have to be employed in order to carry out these various steps and the several pumps have to be switched on and off quite rapidly to drain the many elements of the complex system in a manner that is entirely satisfactory. Relying upon a plurality of pumps not only raises the noise and vibration level but also multiplies the possibility of malfunction.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a single pump means which is capable of drawing liquids or air from a plurality of sources simultaneously and efliciently.

United States Patent 0 3 ,4-50,05 l Patented June 17, 1969 Another object of this invention is to provide a pump for transporting fluids which can be formed of chemically inert materials, is quite in operation, self-priming after being started up, which has few moving parts and does not require shaft seals or other moving seals and which op erates efliciently and effectively regardless of load conditions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the pump showing the drive motor mounted on the pump casing, certain of the intake ports leading into the pump casing and the discharge port.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pump showing the drive motor mounted on the pump housing, the control switch for the drive motor as well as the intake and discharge ports of the pump mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a vertical view of said pump partly in section and partly broken away taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view, in section, of said pump taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, the view being in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the pump taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view, looking upward, of the base of the upper impeller which forms part of the impeller system of the rotary pump of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the upper impeller taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the lower of the two impellers of the dual impeller system of this rotary pump.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, in section, of the lower impeller taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of the pump of this invention with the impeller structure partly in section and partly broken away to show the arrangement of the impeller within the casing.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the pump housing and the upper impeller taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10 in the direction shown, and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the pump housing and the lower impeller taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 10 and in the direction shown.

Like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 the pump device of this invention is powered by a suitable electric motor drive means generally indicated by reference numeral 10 provided with a switch 11 for the on-off control of the power supply to motor 10 which passes through power feed line 12.

Supporting motor 10 is the pump means itself, generally indicated by reference numeral 13 and consisting of a sealed housing 14 which is preferably formed of an inert material and in sections for ease of assembly, the lower section of which is provided with a plurality of feet 15, usually of rubber, each of which is held in place by a nut 16 and a bolt 17. Motor E10 is joined rigidly tocasing 14 by a plurality of bolts 18 which pass down through the housing of motor 10 and through pump cover plate 19 to which they are rigidly fixed by means of nuts 20 and 21 shown in the detail broken away. Housing 14, as described, is formed in several sections, an upper section 22, a middle section 23 and a lower section 24 as shown in FIG. 3 with the spaces between the sections being provided with sealing rings 25 and 26. Cover plate '19 and the individual sections of housing 14 are held together in assembled position by means of threaded tie-rods 27 provided with upper nut 28 and lower nut 29 which, when taken up tight not only seal the sections of the housing against each other but also act to maintain motor in the desired position on the housing.

The rotor elements which create the desired pumping action when the drive motor is switched on are the sole moving parts of pump 13 and these rotor elements are all contained within housing (14.

As shown in assembled position in FIG. '3, the rotor elements comprise an upper impeller 30', also shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, and a lower impeller 31, also shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, which are carried in abutted position by a stud shaft 32 provided with an offset shoulder 32' against which upper impeller 30* is suitably seated so that both impellers are properly placed longitudinally on stud shaft 32. Stud shaft 32 is attached to the drive shaft 33 of motor 10 by suitable means (not shown) so that impellers 30 and 31 rotate as a unit with drive shaft 33. 'Upper impeller 30 and lower impeller 31 are held tightly butted up against each other and in fixed position on stud shaft 32 by means of a retainer disc 34 which is adapted to press against internal shoulder 35 of lower impeller 31 when screws 36 are tightened up thus causing the top surface of upper impeller 30 to be tightly seated against shoulder 32' of stud shaft 32. \When the impellers are assembled in this position drive shaft 33 of motor 10 rotates both upper impeller 30 and lower impeller 31 with it as a single unit. No bearings are necessary since no contact with any of the inner surfaces is made.

A plurality of inlet ports 37 are provided which lead into pump housing 14. Seated in ports 37 are intake pipes 38 which communicate with external nipples 39 to which suitable piping (not shown) may be connected to introduce the fluid to be pumped. Each intake pipe and nipple assembly is held in position in inlet ports 37 by means of a retaining clamp 40 held down by a slotted bolt 41 suitably threaded into an insert in housing 14. As shown in FIG. 1, clamps 40 may be so designed as to hold two inlet pipe and nipple assemblies is position.

As shown in FIG. =3 pump housing 14 is divided by the several sections which form the housing into an upper chamber 42 in which upper impeller 30 normally rotates and a lower chamber 43- in which lower impeller 31 normally rotates, the division being effected by the provision of a circular partition 44. Partition 44 is of a generally truncated conical shape and is formed integrally with the middle section 23 of housing 14.

The structural configuration of upper impeller 30 is more clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a view looking upward showing the bottom face of impeller 30.

Upper impeller 30 comprises a central hub 45 having a centrally disposed hole 46 for receiving stud shaft 32 with which impeller 30 rotates as described above. Impeller 30 carries a plurality of radially disposed depending vanes 47 which alternate about the periphery of impeller 30 with slots 48. Vanes 47 are integral with a web 49 which forms the top of the impeller. Web 49 is pierced by a plurality of air vent holes 50 spaced about hub 45 and which extend into the annular space 51 between hub 45 and vanes 47.

Lower impeller 31 is also formed with a central hub 52 which carries a plurality of horizontal circular plates 53, 54 and 55 spaced apart vertically. Each of said horizontal plates is perforated by a series of circumferentially spaced holes 56. Upper plate '53 is also pierced by a second group of holes 57 hose function will be described hereinafter. I

Circular plates 53, 54 and 55 are each notched out at 58 to form a series of circumferentially spaced vanes 59 superimposed one above the other. The vertical spacing between horizontal circular plates 53, 54- and 55 is provided so that when rotated they will clear the tips of intake pipes 38.

A sludge drain 60 is set in lower section 24 of pump housing 14 to permit cleaning and draining the interior of pump housing 14 if desired. Drain 60* is normally closed during operation and is held in position by a clamp 61 secured to housing 14 by bolt or fastener 62.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 pump 13 discharges the fluid intake through a discharge port 63 which communicates with upper chamber 42 of pump housing 14 through middle section -23. Suitable piping (not shown) may be connected to an external nipple 64- which leads from port 63 in order to carry the discharge of pump 13 to any point to which it is to be delivered.

If discharge port 63 is blocked for some reason any overflow from pump housing 14 can leave through an overflow port 65 located in upper section 22 of the pump housing 14. As shown in FIG. 3, overflow port 65 communicates with the inside of pump housing 14 through a space 66 located between stub shaft 32 and the top of upper section 22 through which shaft 32 normally passes.

To operate the pump of this invention lower section 24 of pump housing 14 is primed with a liquid until about half full. The liquid can be introduced, for example, through discharge port 64. Intake pipes 38 are connected by suitable tubing to whatever systems are to be drained and discharge port -64 is then connected to the point to which the combined liquid is to be delivered. Any intake pipes 38 which are not to be utilized may be capped and sealed off or allowed to remain open and suck air into the pump.

Drive motor 10 is then switched on. As drive shaft 33 rotates it also causes both upper impeller 30 and lower impeller 31 to rotate simultaneously in the counter-clockwise direction shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The rotation of impeller 31 sets the liquid present in the base of the pump into circular motion due to the action of vanes 59. The centrifugal force imparted to the liquid by the rotating vanes 59 of impeller 31 causes the liquid to rise up the sides of bottom section 24. The resulting vortex creates an annular body of liquid within section 24 which has a cylindrical and almost vertical free inner surface.

The intake pipes 38 are so positioned as to be somewhat below the free inner surface of the rotating body of liquid. The high velocity of the liquid passing the ends of intake pipes 38 creates a partial vacuum at the opening of said intake pipes 38. This vacuum acts to draw fluid from any vessel to which any intake pipe 38 is connected into the pump.

The liquid thus drawn into pump 13 by each of intake pipes 38 accumulates in the interior of lower section 24 of pump housing 14 and then rises up peripherally to overflow partition 44 which separates lower section 24 from upper section 23. When the overflow liquid enters upper section 23 the tangential force exerted on the liquid by vanes 47 of rotating impeller 30 forces the liquid out of the upper part of pump 13 through discharge port 64, as shown in FIG. 4. The air taken in leaves through vent holes 50.

If the pump is operated without any liquid intake the working liquid tends to escape. The stepped lower surface of partition 44 helps retain the liquid which can return through holes 57.

The pump of this invention is highly flexible since it can operate effectively and simultaneously on many separate sources from which fluid is to be drawn and then discharged as a combined stream. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive, operates, for example, with twelve intake ports on two levels.

Increased capacity can be readily achieved by providing additional intake ports at each level or provided additional levels by increasing the number of plates which go to form lower impeller 31.

A more simplified embodiment of the pump of this invention is shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

Drive motor 10 is mounted on cover plate 19 of pump housing 14 which is divided into an upper chamber 42 and a lower chamber 43 by means of circular partition 44. Motor drive shaft 33 passes through cover plate 19 and supports an assembly consisting of upper impeller 30 and lower impeller 31a fixed to said shaft 33 by means of a. set screw 67, for example. As previously described upper impeller 30 is provided with depending vanes 47. Lower impeller 31a while functioning in the same manner as impeller 31 previously described is, however, constructed somewhat differently.

Lower impeller 31a comprises a web portion 68 provided with depending vertical vanes 69 each of which is formed with an outwardly facing slot 70 so positioned that on rotation vanes 69 will clear intake pipes 38 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

The operation of this pump is carried out similarly to the embodiment described above. The pump is first primed with water or other fluid which can be introduced conveniently through discharge port 63, for example. Intake pipes 38 are then connected up by means of suitable tubing (not shown) to the several vessels from which fluid is to be withdrawn. Motor is then started up and when shaft 33 rotates both upper impeller 30 and lower impeller 31a also rotate. As previously described, lower impeller 31a causes the liquid in lower chamber 43 to rise up on the sides due to centrifugal force. The velocity of the fast moving liquid as it moves past intake pipes 38 lowers the pressure in said pipes and the partial vacuum formed draws any liquid under this partial vacuum through intake pipes 38 and into lower chamber 43. As the level of liquid in lower chamber 43 rises, it then passes upward through holes 71 in web 68 of impeller 31a and through annular space 72 and overflows partition 44 to enter upper chamber 30. Rotating impellers 47 then pick up the fluid and, as shown in FIG. 11, the fluid is ejected from discharge port 63 under relatively high velocity. Any air drawn into pump 13 can leave through air vents 50 and through the narrow space 73 which forms the clearance between shaft 33 and cover plate 19.

It is understood that the foregoing detailed description is given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary pump for pumping liquids comprising a circular first chamber adapted to contain a body of liquid, means for setting said body of liquid into rotational motion whereby the centrifugal force on the rotating body of liquid causes it to form a rotating layer against said first chamber wall, an intake pipe connected to a liquid source extending into said first chamber with its open end terminating at a point within the rotating body of liquid and a concentric annular overflow partition for discharging any excess of liquid drawn through said intake pipe into said chamber so as to maintain a substantially constant volume of liquid within said first chamber.

2. A rotary pump in accordance with claim 1 wherein rotatably mounted impeller means are provided for setting said body of liquid into rotational motion.

3. A.rotary pump for pumping liquids comprising a circular first chamber adapted to contain a body of liquid, rotatably mounted impeller means for setting said body of liquid into rotational motion whereby the centrifugal force on the rotating body of liquid causes it to form a rotating layer against said first chamber wall, at least one intake pipe connected to a liquid source extending into said first chamber with its open end terminating at a point within the rotating body of liquid and overflow partition means concentric with said first chamber for discharging excess liquid from said first chamber into a second chamber, rotatably mounted impeller means in said second chamber and a discharge port communicating with said second chamber through which the rotating impeller means discharges the liquid overflowing into said second chamber.

4. A rotary pump according to claim 3 wherein said first chamber contains a plurality of superimposed impeller means and each intake pipe provided is positioned between said superimposed impeller means.

5. A rotary pump according to claim 3 wherein the rotatably mounted impeller means is slotted to clear the intake pipe where it projects into said first chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,196,799 7/1965 Loss 103-107 2,276,824 3/1942 Corruthers. 2,985,108 5/ 1961 Stoner et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 272,288 3/ 1914 Germany. 700,100 12/1940 Germany. 838,859 5/ 1952 Germany.

HENRY F. RADUAZO, Primary Examiner.

U.S. c1. X.R. 103 s4, 10s 

